Even more than people in love, stores love Valentine’s Day.
They shoot their marketing and cheesy ads straight for the heart, like arrows. Every year, millions of dollars are spent to make people fall in love with things like fancy dinners, champagne, expensive flower bouquets, and sparkly stud earrings. Because, in the end, love really is like a diamond, right? Wrong.
But here’s the thing. People still fall for all that advertising. In 2021, it was thought that Americans would spend more than $21.8 billion on Valentine’s Day. 1 That works out to about $165 per person. This year, the amount is expected to reach almost $24 billion. 2 But guess what? You don’t have to spend a lot of money to show your Valentine how much you care. Here are 14 ideas for Valentine’s Day dates that won’t break the bank (and your wallet).
1. Have dinner and go to the movies
Okay, we know that dinner and a movie is the most typical date, but don’t put it down. You can use it in any way you want, and you might have to if COVID-19 rules are still in place where you live. So how about a home-cooked meal with candles and a romantic Netflix movie? You don’t have to spend a lot of money on your meal either. Order a pizza, splurge on food delivery, or grab a meal to go from your favorite local restaurant. You can relax at home while everyone else is rushing to make a reservation and find a babysitter.
2. Get on the road
Just get in the car and drive with your love. You might spend a little money on gas, but if you go to a town you’ve never been to or a famous landmark, you’ll make memories that will last a long time. You could also go back to places around town where you have good memories and take pictures there. Don’t forget to make a list of songs to listen to as you drive.
3. Have a night of games
This is the best cheap date idea ever. Who doesn’t like a good board game and a little bit of competition? Bring out some old board games or buy a new one and spend the night playing them. Do you prefer video games? Then you can also go that way. Most likely, all that gaming will make you hungry, so have some Valentine’s Day-themed snacks on hand. You can’t go wrong with red velvet cupcakes, conversation hearts, or a heart-shaped box of chocolates, which is the gold standard.
4. Go to an art museum
Two tickets to a local museum don’t usually cost too much. You can even sometimes find coupons. Learn something about art or history, and also about each other. If you combine this idea with a home-cooked meal, a movie night, or a game night, you’ll have a fun-filled day.
5. Take a Hike
Bring a lunch and a few bottles of water, and then hit the trail. Getting away from the busyness of everyday life is the best way to get closer. You’ll be surprised at how well you can talk to someone while hiking up a mountain or through the woods on a trail. And you’ll get a lot of exercise, which is a plus. Since it is Valentine’s Day, why not get your heart in shape at the same time?
6. Walk through a plant nursery
Instead of having a dozen long-stemmed roses delivered for $100, go to a tree nursery. Why spend a lot of money on flowers that will die (surprise!) when you can buy a plant that will keep on giving? Grab a small bush or tree for your yard or some flower bulbs to plant now and wait for them to grow when it gets warmer (spring is coming, you know). Yes, there are places like that in Nigeria, but you have to be in Lagos or Abuja to find them.
7. Cook Dinner Together
Get some tasty vegetables at the farmers market? You can use them to make a Valentine’s Day meal. Even though Valentine’s Day ads tell you otherwise, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to make memories. Send the kids to Grandma’s house while you and your partner make a romantic meal. You can make it as fancy (filet mignon) or as simple as you want (grilled cheese and tomato soup). Put some Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, or Nat King Cole on in the background for the perfect romantic music for Valentine’s Day.
8. Drive down Memory Lane
Get out that box of old photos, watch the video of your wedding, or read each other’s love letters. You can also look through the pictures on your phone. When you think about the love you’ve shared over the years, you get butterflies in your stomach. Spend some time thinking about where you’ve been and what the future has in store for you both.
9. Have a picnic.
Get outside if the weather is nice. You could make sandwiches or grab a bottle of wine, cheese, crackers, and a snack. Then find a quiet place to sit and rest together. You and your special someone don’t have to be at a four-star restaurant to connect.
Even if it’s winter and too cold to have a picnic outside, you can spread out a blanket on the living room floor and have a picnic there.
10. Let’s get some coffee
Don’t forget how romantic coffee and conversation can be. You can have a memorable Valentine’s Day date for as little as $10, depending on how fancy you like your coffee. You can hang out in the coffee shop and have a deep conversation with someone, or you can take your coffee with you and walk around town. You can’t go wrong as long as you’re all together and have coffee.
11. Go Stargazing
What is the best low-cost Valentine’s Day date? The kind that is free. And guess what? You can look at the stars at night for free. Plus, it’s just plain romantic. This will be easy to do if you don’t live near a lot of city lights. But if you don’t have a telescope, you can just drive outside of the city to see the stars. Have you got one? Then take it along with you. But don’t worry, you don’t need one to see the stars.
Plus, naming a star after your partner is a pretty good last-minute gift idea.
12. Go to an arcade
Step into a time machine and go back to when life was easier, like when your biggest worry was getting eaten by Pac-Man ghosts or crashing in a racing game. The best part is that most games only cost between 500 and 5000 naira. Just make sure you know how much money you want to spend before you go. Because once you get there, it’s too easy to jump from game to game without realizing you just spent 50,000 naira.
And remember that spending time together doesn’t cost a thing. You can’t go wrong with a sincere love letter and some one-on-one time if money is tight. No matter what Valentine’s Day date idea you choose, make sure you have the money for it first. Just put your budget amount in your QPay Wallet, and you can be sure you won’t spend more than that amount.
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